The Note’s Must-Reads for Thursday, December 3, 2009

The Note's Must-Reads are a round-up of today's political headlines and stories from ABC News and the top U.S. newspapers. Posted Monday through Friday right here at www.abcnews.com

Compiled by ABC News’ JAYCE HENDERSON, PETER MARTINEZ, KRISTEN RED-HORSE, CLAUDIA MORALES and CARRIE HALPERIN

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AFGHANISTAN:

ABC News’ Huma Khan: “Gates Says Afghan Withdrawal Deadline May Be Delayed” LINK

ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos: “Obama Bets His Presidency on McChrystal Karzai: “Obama Bets His Presidency on McChrystal” LINK

Politico’s David Rogers: “Afghanistan plan roils the Hill” LINK

The New York Times’ Sabrina Tavernise and Carlotta Gall: “Afghanistan and Pakistan Rattled by Plan for Drawdown” LINK

The Washington Post’s Pamela Constable and Joshua Partlow: “Pakistanis voice concerns about Obama’s new Afghanistan plan” LINK

The Washington Post’s Peter Slevin: “Plan splits liberals (like John and Joe)” LINK

The Washington Post’s Ann Scott Tyson: “Soldiers at Fort Bragg enthusiastic about troop plan” LINK

The Washington Post’s Eve Conant: “This Week in Conservative Media: Obama Sits on the Afghan Fence” LINK

Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter: “Success in Afghanistan Depends on Out Seemingly Powerless Partner There” LINK

USA Today's Ken Dilanian: "Afghanistan plan leaves Dems doubtful, Republicans critical" LINK

The Associated Press' Tom Raum: "Congress, Obama spar over paying for Afghan plan" LINK

Time's Joe Klein: "Afghanistan: Can Obama Sell America on This War?" LINK

Time's Mark Thompson: "Left Out: How to Grow the Afghan Army" LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Weisman and Yochi Dreazen: “Time Limit on Surge Draws Fire” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Anand Gopal: “Exit Date Sparks Concern in Kabul” LINK

Bloomberg’s Indira A.R. Lakshmanan: “Afghans Welcome Obama’s Plan While Raising Exit-Date Concerns” LINK

Bloomberg’s Viola Gienger and Jonathan Salant: “Gates Defends ‘Gradual’ Afghan War Exit as Republicans Balk” LINK

The Hill's Aaron Blake: "Democrats in tough races differ in reactions to Afghanistan plan" LINK

The Hill's Roxana Tiron: "Gates opposes troop withdrawal deadline for Afghanistan" LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Paul Richter and Julian E. Barnes: "Afghanistan timetable raises questions" LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Julian E. Barnes, Ned Parker and Laura King: "Obama's Afghanistan strategy has a familiar look" LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Mark Silva: "Rumsfeld takes issue with Obama's remark about Afghan troops" LINK

PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS ADDRESS TO THE NATION:

The New York Times’ James Dao: “Obama’s War Speech Wins Over Some Skeptics” LINK

PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS ADMINISTRATION:

The Washington Post’s Spencer Hsu: “Homeland Security chief warns of threat from al-Qaeda sympathizers in U.S.” LINK

The Boston Globe's Farah Stockman: "Obama team now talking surge" LINK

Time's Michael Scherer: "Executive Privilege for Obama's Social Secretary?" LINK

HEALTH CARE:

ABC News’ Z. Byron Wolf: “Ho, Ho, Ho, Health Reform” LINK

The Washington Times’ Jennifer Haberkorn: “Senate to skip holiday if health care bill stalls” LINK

Politico’s Kenneth P. Vogel: “DeMint: Tea Parties can defeat Dems” LINK

The Associated Press' David Espo: "AARP defends cuts in Medicare" LINK

The Associated Press' Erica Werner: "Daschle back in D.C. to work on health care" LINK

Bloomberg’s Brian Faler: “Obama’s Planned Medicare Cuts Cause Distress for Some Democrats” LINK

STIMULUS/ECONOMY/JOBS:

ABC News’ Rick Klein: “GOP Whip Cantor to Outline Job Plan” LINK

Politico’s Jake Sherman: “House Democrats float new jobs plan” LINK

The Washington Post’s Alec MacGillis: “Stimulus is boon for D.C. area contractors” LINK

The Washington Post’s Michael Fletcher and Ben Pershing: “As Obama opens jobs summit, he faces limited options for growth” LINK

The Washington Post’s Brady Dennis: “Financial regulatory package heads to House” LINK

USA Today's Richard Wolf: "Obama puts renewed focus on job creation" LINK

USA Today's Paul Davidson and Paul Wiseman: "Bank of America to repay $45B in TARP bailout money" LINK

Time's Jay Newton-Small: "As Obama Hosts a Jobs Summit, Congress Eyes a Jobs Stimulus" LINK

Time's Janet Morrissey: "Winners and Losers from Black Friday Weekend" LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Neil King Jr.: “Administration Targets Jobs Puzzle” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Louise Radnofsky: “Mistakes in Stimulus Report Under Review” LINK

GAY MARRIAGE:

The New York Times’ Jeremy Peters: “New York State Senate Votes Down Gay Marriage Bill” LINK

Newsweek’s Sarah Kliff: “N.Y. Senate Votes Down Gay Marriage—Time for Federal Action?” LINK

G.O.P./DEMS:

The New York Times’ John Schwartz: “U.S. Judge Opposes Republicans on Elections” LINK

The Washington Post’s Dan Balz: “Democrats say they’ll be on defensive in ’10” LINK

DINNER CRASHERS:

The Associated Press: "Couple accused of crashing White House dinner won't testify" LINK

Bloomberg’s Jeff Bliss and Kate Andersen Brower: “Obama Administration Says It Shares Blame for Security Breach” LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Michael Mcauliff and Kenneth R. Bazinet: "White House finally admits blame over state dinner crashed by Michaele and Tareq Sahali" LINK

TALIBAN:

The Associated Press' Heidi Vogt and Denis Gray: "Taliban Threaten More U.S. Military Deaths" LINK

FORMER BUSH ADMINISTRATION:

The New York Times’ Charlie Savage: “Report Examines Civil Rights During Bush Years” LINK

CLIMATE/ENVIRONMENT:

The Washington Times’ Stephen Dinan: “NASA embroiled in climate dispute” LINK

Politico’s Lisa Lerer: “Kerry still optimistic on climate talks” LINK

The Associated Press: "House OKs bill to ban imported radioactive waste" LINK

The Hill's Jim Snyder: "Vilsack: Climate bill to be boon to farmers" LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Jim Tankersley and Alexander C. Hart: "Global warming e-mails prompt Republican letter to EPA" LINK

CONGRESS:

ABC News’ Z. Byron Wolf: “A Filibusterer’s Guide to the Senate” LINK

ABC News’ David Chalian: “Reid Hides From Top Issues” LINK

Politico’s Victoria McGrane and Eamon Javers: “Sanders’ block ups stakes for fed” LINK

The Washington Times’ Tom LoBianco: “Senators scrutinize Obama’s war plan” LINK

USA Today's On Politics: "Bernanke's nomination to be held up in Senate" LINK

The Associated Press' Jeannine Aversa: "Senator moves to block Bernanke's confirmation as Fed chairman" LINK

OTHER MUST-READS:

The Washington Times’ Jim McElhatton: “EXCLUSIVE: Top Interior official gets $2M bonus” LINK

Politico’s Jessica Taylor: “Dem govs focus on economy for 2010” LINK

Newsweek’s Daniel Stone: “Iraqi Shoe Thrower Gets a Taste of Own Medicine” LINK

USA Today's Andrew M. Seaman: "Last U.S. vet of WWI wants national memorial in D.C." LINK

The Associated Press: "Details of White House Christmas decorations" LINK

Time's Alice Park: "U.S. Allows New Stem-Cell Lines for Research" LINK

Time's Amy Sullivan: "Is Obama Scaling Back Bush's AIDS Initiative?" LINK

The Hill's Susan Crabtree: "Aides to Rep. Scott scheduled to testify on Va. Tech threats" LINK

ABC NEWS VIDEOS:

“Gibson's Full Interview With Secy. Gates” LINK

“Clinton, Gates, Mullen Testify on Afghanistan” LINK

“Clinton: Engagement Was 'Long, Thoughtful Process'” LINK

“From Afghanistan, U.S. Troops 'Supportive'” LINK